Only Arsenal are consistent.

The Premier League has once again experienced a strange season, with Arsenal cruising towards the championship while the rest of the big clubs have repeatedly stumbled.

Liverpool (before) had too many problems - Photo: REUTERS

Indeed, from Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea to Man United and Tottenham, all the traditional giants in the "big 6" of English football disappointed in the first round of the first half of the season.

At Fulham's ground, Liverpool experienced their strangest game of the season, putting their fans through a rollercoaster of emotions.

Lack of attack ideas

The initial feeling – which persisted throughout the match – was one of... boredom and frustration. Arne Slot's team played a dull game as usual. They were timid, lacked ideas in attack, and were even careless in defense. If Fulham had taken their chances better, they could have even been 2-0 up in the first 60 minutes.

Liverpool only accelerated after conceding the first goal. But their attacking ideas were too poor. The absence of three big stars – Salah, Isak, and Ekitike – was only part of the reason.

More importantly, manager Slot truly lacked diverse attacking strategies, and under the Dutch strategist, Liverpool also lacked fighting spirit and sharp attacking transitions.

When Liverpool were in serious crisis two months ago, Slot blamed it on their opponents playing defensively. But in the last two games, neither Leeds nor Fulham had to strain themselves defensively, as their opponents didn't show the characteristics of a true top team.

Amateur Defense

Liverpool eventually took the lead thanks to a moment of brilliance, with Gakpo scoring in the 90+3 minute. But just three minutes later, they conceded another goal due to a moment of amateurish defending.

Harrison Reed's long-range shot was spectacular, but the key lay in Liverpool's central defensive performance, as they didn't send any players out to intercept it. Towards the end of the match, all Liverpool's defenders did was huddle together in large numbers in the penalty area.

Liverpool's problem is obvious to the entire football world: they are severely lacking in defensive midfielders and center-backs. Last summer, Liverpool spent half a billion euros bringing in a host of superstars for the attacking line, but failed to address the team's core shortcomings.

Manchester United have just sacked head coach Amorim - Photo: REUTERS

And it's not just Liverpool...

It wasn't just Liverpool; Chelsea and Man United also experienced a summer of similar shortcomings. Each team spent a lot of money, but neither managed to truly resolve their problems.

Manchester United bought three strikers, only to find themselves fielding eight defenders when winter arrived. The Red Devils' midfield is severely understaffed, with only Casemiro proving to be a top-class central midfielder.

Chelsea have a very effective long-term investment strategy, with a wide-ranging approach. Season after season, Chelsea manage to balance their finances, but that's only in economic terms. On the pitch, it's clear Chelsea lack a leading center-back, as well as a truly top-class striker capable of capitalizing on the opportunities created by Enzo and Palmer.

As for Man City, manager Pep Guardiola is still struggling to revive the team from its slump. Although he has done quite well, everything takes time. Man City has yet to regain its previous stability.

And in that context, Arsenal may not be exceptionally strong, but they have plenty of confidence as all their rivals are bogged down in their own problems.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chi-minh-arsenal-on-dinh-20260106095337062.htm